Early start OK with KU's Self

Jayhawks open basketball practice Friday

LAWRENCE — Media day in September was a first for Kansas basketball, the result of NCAA changes that allow teams to begin practice Friday.

For a team like the Jayhawks, who could play into April, it makes for a long season. With six freshmen and eight newcomers, though, coach Bill Self will take all the practice time he can get.

“I’m in favor of it this year,” Self said. “If we have very many guys return, I’ll be against it next year.

“I do think the season’s too long, but they’ve done it in a way where basically you don’t have to cram so much stuff in so fast. You can probably take your time and be a better teacher.”

Teams are allotted 30 practices in the 42 days leading up to their first games, meaning they can progress at a more leisurely pace. It also means players could be breathing heavy during those first few fall practices.

“There will not be one team in America from a conditioning standpoint that’s prepared to practice for a Nov. 1-type practice,” Self said. “There’s no way they can be. If you are, those teams will be worn out by February. We’ll work them hard, but there’s no reason to have 31/2-hour practices in September.”

Late Night in the Phog, KU's annual hoops kickoff, is scheduled for Oct. 4.

REDSHIRTS POSSIBLE? — With this shaping up as one of Self’s deepest teams, he didn’t rule out the possibility of redshirting a player or two.

“I foresee us talking about it with maybe one or two guys,” Self said. “The possibilities of who could potentially do such a thing are limited because we’ve already had some guys either transfer or redshirt.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if let’s say one guy redshirts, but it won’t be because we tell him they have to.”

Self advocates redshirting players who won’t be in his rotation, which most years includes nine players at most.

“After seeing Travis (Releford) and Jeff Withey, I can’t understand if you’re not in the mix or the top nine, if you’re a young kid, why you wouldn’t consider that,” Self said.